What is Remote Online Notarization (RON)?
In 2011, Virginia pioneered digital notarizations with House Bill 2318/Senate Bill 827, marking a shift from in-person to online notarizations. Now, 40+ states embrace this safer, simpler, and smarter way to authenticate documents.
Remote online notarization (RON) employs audio-video tech, enabling electronic document notarization with signers appearing before a commissioned notary. This process preserves traditional notarization components while incorporating advanced technology for enhanced security.
RON has expanded beyond Virginia, with 40+ states enacting RON laws. Interstate Recognition facilitates cross-state validity, making RON performed under one state’s laws acceptable in another.
To prevent fraud, the ProNotary platform uses multi-step identity verification:
- Knowledge-Based Authentication (Something you know): Signers answer dynamic KBA questions based on public records, reinforcing identity verification.
- Credential Analysis (Something you have): Signers capture images of a government-issued ID, which are analyzed for authenticity by an automated system.
- Notary Validation (Something you are): After passing KBA and credential analysis, signers initiate a session with a notary who verifies their identity, ensuring compliance with traditional notarization requirements.
RON offers transparency and record-keeping improvements. ProNotary platform users access notarized documents, notary information, ID photos, and a signing session recording. An audit trail details every signer action, enhancing transparency and trust.
The key advantage of RON is its accessibility. Documents requiring notarization can be processed anywhere, anytime, eliminating the need for physical presence. RON platforms provide businesses with a time-efficient, cost-effective solution, offering customers a seamless digital experience amid ongoing digitization efforts.
